John Berry Fishing Report 4/01/2010

[John Berry]

JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 4/01/2010

During the past week, we have had a significant rain event and very heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories) which has caused all of the lakes in the White river system to continue their rise. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose four and two tenths feet to rest at six and two tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty four and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose five tenths of a foot to rest at two and five tenths feet above power pool or thirteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and six tenths of a foot to rest at two and nine tenths of a foot above power pool or six and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the White, we have had generation around the clock. The level of generation has been gradually ramped up. Norfork Lake rose one and five tenths of a foot to rest at one and four tenths of a foot below power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty six and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. On the Norfork, we have had round the clock generation at a moderate level. All of the lakes on the White River system are now above power pool. The Corps of Engineers is aggressively drawing down the lakes and we should return to wadable conditions in two to three weeks providing we receive no further rain.

There were significant changes to trout fishing regulations effective January 1, 2010. The Catch and Release section on the Norfork River will be increased from it current size of 1.1 miles to a new total of approximately two miles. The new upper boundary will be the bottom of long hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman access. The new regulations will also allow for multiple hook points in Catch and Release sections on the White and Norfork Rivers. Up to three treble hooks will be allowed. All hook points must be barbless. Of interest to fly fishers, is that the new regulations will allow the use of droppers, multiple fly rigs and articulated multiple hook streamers.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam, which was closed from November 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010 for the brown trout spawn, has now reopened. Remember that there are numerous spawning beds (redds) containing freshly laid and fertilized eggs. Please avoid dragging chains through these areas. The redds will appear as clean depressions in the gravel.

On the higher flows we received this week, the key to success was to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink and red) and egg patterns (peach and orange). On water this high, you must use long leader/tippet combinations (fourteen feet) and a lot of lead. You must tick the bottom. Use a large strike indicator and 4X tippet. The most productive area for this technique has been the Catch and Release Section below Bull Shoals Dam (sowbugs have also been a productive fly in this section).

Another hot spot has been White Shoals (below Rim Shoals). The hot fly has been the Y2K. To increase hook ups many anglers have been using a dropper. Effective droppers in the last week have been black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead, caddis pupa and pheasant tail nymphs.

If you want to wade on the high flows you can obtain the services of the water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock. For a nominal fee they will ferry you to wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to return. They can provide these services in flows up to 17,000 cubic feet per second.

Anglers in the Redds landing have also reported success on the higher flows.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are both dropping and are beginning to clear. The warm temperatures are beginning to warm them up and the small mouth will become more active when the water temperature reaches fifty five degrees.

The Norfork received moderate flow around the clock. There was no wadable water. On the high flows, brightly colored San Juan worms (red, cerise and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns (peach and orange) have been the go to flies. On the upper river try a sowbug dropper and on the lower river try a caddis pupa.

Dry Run Creek has fished well. There was a bit of pressure last week from anglers visiting to take advantage of spring break. The habitat improvement part of the Dry Run Creek improvement project sponsored by the Friends of the Norfork Fish Hatchery is in progress. Don’t be put off by the sight of heavy equipment in the stream bed. They are busily improving fishing on the creek. The hot fly this past week was the sowbug followed by the worm brown San Juan worm. There have also been a lot of bank stabilization improvements that allow access to most of the creek without the use of waders. Remember to bring a camera and a really big net.

The water level on the Spring River is high and the water is stained from the recent rains. It is beginning to clear. Be sure and wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers, cerise San Juan worms and pheasant tail nymphs.

Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.

Practice water safety and always check conditions before you leave home.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.